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Northern Liberties 2
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Northern Liberties 2:
| Site Name | Northern Liberties 2 |
| PASS# | 36PH0225 |
| Image | 1 image site overview |
| Dates of Excavation | 2017 |
| Phase of Excavation | Phase II and III |
| Number of Units | 38 |
| Number of Features | 21 |
| Number of Trenches | 0 |
| Associated Periods | Mid-eighteenth to late nineteenth century |
| Site Acreage | 0.37 |
Prior to excavations, an examination of historic maps was undertaken, revealing that the remains of houses that once lined Second Street are beneath the I-95/I-676 exit ramp—which indicates that this open grassy area spanned several backyards along both Second and Callowhill Streets. Archaeological excavations began with the removal of modern overburden across the site, exposing a relatively large number of historic shaft features for the small area. The majority of shafts were of circular brick construction. A small number of wooden forms (box or barrel) were also encountered. Collectively, these historic shafts revealed insights into residential life in Northern Liberties from the early and late nineteenth century. Domestic artifacts such as ceramics, bottles, personal items, and faunal remains are currently being analyzed and will help AECOM archaeologists to form a complete picture of life in the Northern Liberties area soon after the American Revolution and onward through the early Industrial Revolution.
A building foundation that does not appear on any of the available nineteenth-century maps was also uncovered. Constructed of Wissahickon schist, it spans several connected backyards and appears to predate the residences along Second and Callowhill. The historic fill in and around this earlier structure only contained eighteenth-century artifacts, further linking this foundation to an earlier, pre-residential time period in Northern Liberties. Although analyses are ongoing, it seems likely that this building dated to a time when Northern Liberties was more rural in the eighteenth century. The building may have served as a barn or stable.
Site Page
Northern Liberties 2
| Site Name | Northern Liberties 2 |
| PASS# | 36PH0225 |
| Image | 1 image site overview |
| Dates of Excavation | 2017 |
| Phase of Excavation | Phase II and III |
| Number of Units | 38 |
| Number of Features | 21 |
| Number of Trenches | 0 |
| Associated Periods | Mid-eighteenth to late nineteenth century |
| Site Acreage | 0.37 |
Prior to excavations, an examination of historic maps was undertaken, revealing that the remains of houses that once lined Second Street are beneath the I-95/I-676 exit ramp—which indicates that this open grassy area spanned several backyards along both Second and Callowhill Streets. Archaeological excavations began with the removal of modern overburden across the site, exposing a relatively large number of historic shaft features for the small area. The majority of shafts were of circular brick construction. A small number of wooden forms (box or barrel) were also encountered. Collectively, these historic shafts revealed insights into residential life in Northern Liberties from the early and late nineteenth century. Domestic artifacts such as ceramics, bottles, personal items, and faunal remains are currently being analyzed and will help AECOM archaeologists to form a complete picture of life in the Northern Liberties area soon after the American Revolution and onward through the early Industrial Revolution.
A building foundation that does not appear on any of the available nineteenth-century maps was also uncovered. Constructed of Wissahickon schist, it spans several connected backyards and appears to predate the residences along Second and Callowhill. The historic fill in and around this earlier structure only contained eighteenth-century artifacts, further linking this foundation to an earlier, pre-residential time period in Northern Liberties. Although analyses are ongoing, it seems likely that this building dated to a time when Northern Liberties was more rural in the eighteenth century. The building may have served as a barn or stable.